March is Social Work Month! This is Part V of our “Celebrating Social Workers” Blog Series. CancerCare’s Social Worker, Lauren Chatalian, LMSW, shares her thoughts on the importance of oncology social workers for people living with cancer.

This past October, CancerCare held a roundtable discussion titled “Improving the Quality of Life for Lung Cancer Patients” at its national headquarters in New York City. Celebrated lung cancer advocates and key opinion leaders in lung cancer treatment held a dialogue and gave presentations reviewing the significance of patient-reported outcomes related to patients with lung cancer.

Cold weather poses special challenges for people affected by neuropathy, a type of pain and discomfort caused by nerve damage. Neuropathy can be a common side effect of certain chemotherapy treatments, and can develop after surgery.

Neuropathy is often a temporary side effect, but people who experience neuropathy should be aware of ways lessen neuropathy pain and lower the risk of further nerve damage during the winter. Read on to learn more!

It isn’t unusual for people with cancer to find that the intense care and show of concern from friends and family begins to gradually dwindle away after their initial diagnosis. They may begin to feel their support systems slowly fading away as treatment progresses. It’s vitally important to remember that cancer treatment and recovery is often long and arduous, which is why it’s so important to provide cancer support throughout the entire duration of your loved one’s treatment.

Conversations about body image and self-esteem can be difficult to have with teenagers, even more so if their bodies have undergone a significant change as the result of a cancer diagnosis. CancerCare oncology social worker Sarah Paul, MSW, LMSW, discusses the importance of talking about body image with teens who have cancer, and offers tips on starting the conversation for parents and/or guardians.

When coping with a cancer diagnosis, good communication with your health care team may make a big difference in your care. Communication may build trust between you and your health care team, and improve the level of care you receive. CancerCare intern Alessandra Newton offers some tips and suggestions to help build a better relationship between you and your health care team.

A wholesome and nourishing diet plays an essential part in your overall health. This is especially true when coping with cancer. However, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet while managing the side effects of chemo. Luckily, there are steps you can take which will help you remain strong and healthy throughout your chemotherapy treatment.

Coping can be challenging when you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. If you are in distress, it may be difficult to perform everyday tasks, keep up with treatments or care for yourself. Throughout the treatment process, some people may decide to incorporate integrative techniques into their lives to cope. Integrative medicine helps manage symptoms and side effects using different therapies along with standard cancer treatment. Common side effects of cancer treatment include fatigue, psychological distress, nausea, and pain. An integrative approach may help you.

CancerCare, the CDC Foundation, and Amgen are working together on a survey to better understand cancer patients' and caregivers' knowledge of one of chemotherapy’s side effects that may increase their risk of getting an infection.

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